Man convicted of raping 15-year-old

By Rebecca Clark

Published: Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 07:04 PM.

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Beth Lari said Bryant blamed the teen, claiming she flirted with him and took advantage of the fact he had recently broken up with his fiancé. Lari said during the course of the trial, Bryant took the stand and testified that his confession had been coerced by the investigator.

The trial began Monday, and jury deliberations took less than three hours before a unanimous verdict was reached.

He was found guilty on both charges, though the jury members requested leniency in sentencing.

The judge recognized mitigating factors that alleviated the sentence Bryant received, including a good employment history, family and community support, as well as a non-statutory mitigating factor -- the joint custody he has of his son.

"From my perspective, there's a lot of tragedy to go around surrounding what happened," said Judge Robert T. Sumner. "It's an unfortunate thing for both families."

A man will spend 12 to 15 years in prison after being convicted Thursday of the rape of a 15-year-old girl.

According to court testimony, Matthew Dane Bryant had sex with the teen on Oct. 15, 2011, after the girl had come to the home where Bryant lived with his mother and siblings.

Prosecutors said the victim had come over to the house to visit Bryant's younger sister.

While there, Bryant, who was then 25, had sex with the girl, according to court testimony.

The incident came to light after the girl wrote a letter to her boyfriend apologizing for what happened with Bryant.

When Bart Lee, an investigator with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, questioned Bryant about the accusations, he initially denied anything happened and then confessed, saying it was the girl's fault, not his.

Bryant was arrested and charged with statutory rape and indecent liberties.

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Beth Lari said Bryant blamed the teen, claiming she flirted with him and took advantage of the fact he had recently broken up with his fiancé. Lari said during the course of the trial, Bryant took the stand and testified that his confession had been coerced by the investigator.

The trial began Monday, and jury deliberations took less than three hours before a unanimous verdict was reached.

He was found guilty on both charges, though the jury members requested leniency in sentencing.

The judge recognized mitigating factors that alleviated the sentence Bryant received, including a good employment history, family and community support, as well as a non-statutory mitigating factor -- the joint custody he has of his son.

"From my perspective, there's a lot of tragedy to go around surrounding what happened," said Judge Robert T. Sumner. "It's an unfortunate thing for both families."

'The consequences of this are on the adult'

When Bryant heard the jury verdict, he hung his head and then covered his face with his hands.

His brother cried on the front bench.

Before he was led away by sheriff's deputies, his mother asked if she could hug her son.

The request was denied.

During closing arguments, Lari said sometimes the law has to protect children from themselves, thus laws on drinking, driving and sex.

"She is not who is legally required to take responsibility for her actions," Lari said. "The consequences of this are on the adult."

Lari said although significant, Bryant was sentenced at the rock bottom for the crime.

She said Bryant had previously turned down a plea offer from the state that would have sentenced him to less than five years in prison.

"He just wouldn't take it," Lari said.

"It is a clear law and should not be difficult to follow," she said. "The threshold is pretty basic, it seems pretty easy to find a sex partner over 16 and willing."